Dutchman Michael van Gerwen dumped Phil Taylor out of the Grand Slam of Darts with a famous 10-5 victory in Wolverhampton.

Billed as a clash between the two current best players in the world, the opening eight legs went with the throw before 23-year-old Van Gerwen broke after Taylor missed the bull for a 167 checkout.

Van Gerwen then surged 8-4 ahead after some heavy scoring and although Taylor pulled one back the Dutch ace ended the match with tops to cap a superb performance with a three-dart average of 108.38.

"The last few months I've played very well. After the group I was very confident," he told Sky Sports.

"I didn't play my best game, but I knew I had to against Taylor.

"I was very glad I was playing my best again him. I'm so proud of myself. I'm practising a lot. I'm working hard to make this happen. I'm very happy to beat Phil Taylor, but he's still the man to beat."

Van Gerwen will meet Scott Waites in the quarter-finals after the former champion edged out Robert Thornton 10-8.

Throwing to stay in the match at 8-9, Thornton missed double 16 before watching Waites make a 120 checkout to move into the last eight.

Waites said: "It was a fantastic game between the two of us and I'm glad I came out the winner. Everytime I won a leg Robert kept battling back. It's great to end the match with a 103 average and I know I will have to produce that kind of standard against Michael van Gerwen in my next match."

Yorkshireman Dean Winstanley followed up his excellent form in the group stages by easing to a 10-5 victory over Arron Monk to also seal his place in the last eight.

Winstanley, who had dumped out the highly-fancied Simon Whitlock in his previous match in Wolverhampton, raced into an early 3-0 lead in the first of the second-round matches.

Basingstoke youngster Monk reduced the arrears to 3-2 and then 4-3, but Winstanley then pulled clear with the help of five maximums to set up a meeting with Kevin Painter.

"I'm delighted to be through to the next round," Winstanley told the official PDC website.

"I had a chance last year and didn't take it but tonight I took my opportunity with both hands. I had a great start to the game but ran out of steam a little in the middle.

"However, after the second break I really found some form and I was finding the treble 20 on a regular basis."

Painter, current holder of the Players Championship title, was an impressive 10-5 winner over Mervyn King.

The opening four legs were shared before 'The Artist' reeled off five in a row to put himself in pole position.

King continued to fight but ultimately had left himself with too much to do and Painter eased himself over the finishing line with the help of a 180 in a 13-dart leg.

"Neither of us found any fluency but I took the chances that Mervyn gave to me," said Painter.

"I've beaten Mervyn a couple of times in recent TV tournaments and that could have been on his mind tonight. I seem to play well in Wolverhampton and the game against Dean on Saturday should be a good one."